REPORTER: WITH SPORTING EVENTS CANCELED NATIONWIDE, PROFESSIONAL ONLINE GAMERS ARE TAKING THE SPOTLIGHT. >> SACRAMENTO UP BY ONE. REPORTER: YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE SACRAMENTO KINGS, NOW MEET THEIR ESPORTS TEAM, KINGS GUARD GAMING. >> THIS IS A MENTAL SPORT, NOT A PHYSICAL SPORT. REPORTER: SOCIAL DISTANCING PUTTING A HALT TO TRADITIONAL SPORTS, BUT NOT AN ISSUE FOR THOSE COMPETING ONLINE LIKE KINGS GUARD POWER FORWARD RAFEL CRUSH DAVIS. >> ESPORTS IS PLAYED REMOTELY FROM HOME, SO YOU CAN DEFINITELY STILL ENGAGE WITH YOUR TEAMMATES. REPORTER: CORONAVIRUS PUTTING A TEMPORARY HALT TO IN-PERSON FACE-OFFS AND IN OUR CASE, INTERVIEWS, BUT NOT STOPPING TOURNAMENTS OR FAN ENGAGEMENT ONLINE. >> THROUGHOUT THIS TOUGH TIME, WE JUST WANT TO GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE FANS TO WATCH. >> OH MY, GET THAT SHOT OUT OF HERE. >> THE INTERESTING CROSS OVER WITH TRADITIONAL SPORTS IS TRADITIONAL ATHELETES AND FANS AROUND THE WORLD ALL LOVE GAME REPORTER: CHRIS PARK MANAGES TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD. >> WE HAVE A MORE MALLEABLE AND FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT AND COMMUNITY BECAUSE OUR CONTENT AND COMPETITION HAPPENS ONLINE. REPORTER: PARK SAYS ONLINE VIEWS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF SINCE COVID-19 FORCED THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY INDOORS. >> E-SPORTS IS IN A UNIQUE MOMENT ACROSS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE STAYING AT HOME WITH FAMILY, AND NEEDING TO FIND WAYS TO VIRTUALLY CONNECT WITH OUR FRIENDS, GAMES ARE IN MANY WAYS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT. >> WE ARE TRAINING MORE OFTEN, SETTING UP SCRIMMAGES. REPORTER: KINGS GUARD GAMING FRESH OFF THEIR COAST-TO-COAST CUP WIN, GEARING UP NOW TO PLAY IN A SPECIAL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND WITH FANS. >> GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY, SHOWING PEOPLE OF SACRAMENTO WHAT ALL THIS HARD WORK IS GOING INTO. REPORTER: AN UNCONVENTIONAL SPORT GOING MAINSTREAM AS SHELTER-AT-HOME ORDERS REMAIN IN PLACE. IF YOU’D LIKE TO CHEER ON THE KINGS GUARD AT THEIR NEXT TOURNAMENT, THEY’LL BE STREAMING LIVE ONLINE ON TWITCH AND YOUTUBE THIS WEEKEND. WE’RE GAMING IN SACRAME

With COVID-19 triggering the postponement of traditional sports seasons, the esports community is attracting record new numbers of views. Local competitive online gamers are also ramping up streaming and practice schedules. "Esports is played remotely from home," said Kings Guard Gaming power forward, Rafel "Crush" Davis. "You can definitely still engage with your team mates. And that goes with video games in general, engaging with family members around the world. I hope we can all get through this together, through this tough time."Kings Guard Gaming is the Sacramento Kings NBA-sponsored electronic sports team. The team just emerged as undefeated champions from the first NBA 2K League Coast-to-Coast Cup, which was live streamed before hundreds of thousands of fans earlier this week. This month, both the MLB and NBA announced they were postponing their competitive seasons due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Social distancing however, has not significantly impacted the online competitive gaming community. "Throughout this tough time, we just want to give something for the fans to watch," Davis said. Like other sports teams worldwide, Kings Guard Gaming has also canceled in-person meet-ups and arena appearances. But, it is continuing to connect with fans online. "In esports, it is a unique moment across an unfortunate situation. Our sport was born in and still is on digital media," explained Chris Park, CEO of Gen. G, which represents competitive teams globally. The company was ranked #6 on Forbes 2019 List of Most Valuable Esports Companies."We have a more malleable and flexible circuit and community because our content and competition happens online," Park added. "We’ve seen our numbers go through the roof, particularly in Asia where COVID-19 experience has been a bit longer in the making."Going back to January, Gen.G saw viewership numbers spike 20-80% depending on the team, players, and geographic location of the tournament broadcast. "We're really blessed to be able to compete in online environments," he said. "Some of the best innovation sometimes happens out of pure necessity. I think this is a really interesting moment for us as an industry to show how esports and gaming are more than just a sport and competition, but about the community."Park did acknowledge that COVID-19 has also impacted day-to-day business, citing adjustments to promotional campaigns that initially required in-person contact. Kings Guard Gaming is competing in a special tournament against fans and other top NBA 2K League players this weekend. If you'd like to cheer them on, they will be live streaming on Twitch and YouTube.

With COVID-19 triggering the postponement of traditional sports seasons, the esports community is attracting record new numbers of views. Local competitive online gamers are also ramping up streaming and practice schedules.

"Esports is played remotely from home," said Kings Guard Gaming power forward, Rafel "Crush" Davis. "You can definitely still engage with your team mates. And that goes with video games in general, engaging with family members around the world. I hope we can all get through this together, through this tough time."

This month, both the MLB and NBA announced they were postponing their competitive seasons due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Social distancing however, has not significantly impacted the online competitive gaming community.

"Throughout this tough time, we just want to give something for the fans to watch," Davis said.

Like other sports teams worldwide, Kings Guard Gaming has also canceled in-person meet-ups and arena appearances. But, it is continuing to connect with fans online.

"In esports, it is a unique moment across an unfortunate situation. Our sport was born in and still is on digital media," explained Chris Park, CEO of Gen. G, which represents competitive teams globally. The company was ranked #6 on Forbes 2019 List of Most Valuable Esports Companies.

"We have a more malleable and flexible circuit and community because our content and competition happens online," Park added. "We’ve seen our [viewer] numbers go through the roof, particularly in Asia where COVID-19 experience has been a bit longer in the making."

Going back to January, Gen.G saw viewership numbers spike 20-80% depending on the team, players, and geographic location of the tournament broadcast.

"We're really blessed to be able to compete in online environments," he said. "Some of the best innovation sometimes happens out of pure necessity. I think this is a really interesting moment for us as an industry to show how esports and gaming are more than just a sport and competition, but about the community."

Park did acknowledge that COVID-19 has also impacted day-to-day business, citing adjustments to promotional campaigns that initially required in-person contact.